Quantcast

Costa's Hummingbird

Calypte costaeOrder: APODIFORMESFamily: Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Costa's Hummingbird Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Needle
  • Eye Color: Dark brown to black.
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Unique pattern
  • Crown Color: Purple
  • Forehead Color: Black
  • Nape Color: Green
  • Throat Color: Purple
  • Cere color: No Data
Costa's Hummingbird Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 9 cm (3.5 in)
  • Weight: 3 g (0.1 oz)
  • Size: Very Small (3 - 5 in)
  • Color Primary: Green, Sheen or Iridescence
  • Underparts: White with green sides.
  • Upperparts: Green
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Costa's Hummingbird Flight

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Hovers when feeding.
  • Wingspan Range: 11 cm (4.5 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Fan-shaped Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Banded
  • Upper Tail: Green with black outer feathers.
  • Under Tail: Green with black outer feathers.
  • Leg Color: Black
.
Bird database and its related content, illustrations and media is Copyright © 2002 - 2007  Whatbird.com
All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be reproduced without written permission from Mitch Waite Group.
 Privacy Policy.
Percevia® Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.
Family
Species Calypte costae
Length3.5 Inches
Wingspan4.5 Inches

Costa's Hummingbird

Costa's Hummingbird: Medium hummingbird with green back, pale gray underparts and dull green flanks. Crown and throat patch are brilliant metallic purple. Straight black bill. Tail is green with black outer tail feathers. Legs and feet are black. Feeds on nectar, spiders, sap and insects. Direct and hovering flight with very rapid wing beats.

● Song: "chip-chip-chip-chip"

● Foraging & Feeding: Costa's Hummingbird: Feeds mainly on nectar, but supplements diet with insects; forages while hovering.

● Breeding & nesting: Costa's Hummingbird: Two white eggs are laid in a delicately woven cup with leaves or lichens fastened to the outside, built low on a protected branch of a bush or small tree. Incubation ranges from 15 to 18 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Costa's Hummingbird: Lucifer Hummingbird has strongly decurved bill, green crown, and deeply forked tail. Female Lucifer is strongly buff below, has decurved bill, and forked tail. Female and immature Anna's is larger with darker throat and duller underparts. Female Archilochus Hummingbird has streaked throat.

Flight Pattern

Hovers when feeding.
Costa's Hummingbird Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Costa's Hummingbird: Breeds from central California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah southward. Spends winters in southern California and Mexico. Prefer arid habitats supporting Joshua trees and cholla cacti.
BreedingPolygamous, Solitary nester
PopulationFairly common
MigrationMigratory
Weight0.1 Ounces